How did Sara Arjun choose Dhurandhar over Ranveer Singh out of 1,200 candidates?
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra talks about casting Sara Arjun in Dhurandhar. She revealed that several actors competed for the role of Yalina opposite Ranveer Singh’s Hamza.
When Ranveer Singh stars in a film, it’s no surprise that actors line up to share screen space with him. Director Aditya Dhar stalwart was no exception – many actors were keen to work opposite the star. But in a surprise move, the makers chose a relatively new face, 20-year-old Sara Arjun – and now, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has revealed why.
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In a recent interview with Bollywood HungamaChhabra shared that both he and Dhar were flooded with requests from actors wanting to be a part of the film. However, the team was clear about one thing – they needed someone who felt like they really belonged in the same world stalwartWithout any preconceived image.
Chhabra said, “A lot of people were also sending messages to Aditya saying that they wanted to work with Ranveer. I was also getting messages. But I clearly told Aditya that we need a face who really looks like he is from that place, without any old baggage. So a fresh face would work better because an actor who has done two films with Ranveer will not establish that connection because his character is going to Pakistan and meeting him.”
Interestingly, despite acting since her childhood, Sara Arjun was yet to play a full-fledged lead role in Bollywood. It worked in his favor. The producers were keen to present a face that would feel fresh and unfamiliar to the audience.
He added, “We were clear that if we were entering that world, it would have to be a complete surprise – people should wonder who this girl is. We held a lot of auditions, about 1,200–1,300 in total, and then we finally auditioned Sara. We also wanted a new face.”
In stalwart And its sequel, Dhurandhar: RevengeSara played the role of Yalina, daughter of politician Jameel Jamali. Her character falls in love with Ranveer Singh’s character and both get married. The sequel delves deeper into their relationship, exploring the cracks that emerge when Yalina uncovers the truth about her husband’s identity.
The film also features strong actors like Akshay Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt.
beyond casting, stalwart The franchise has emerged as a box office juggernaut. While the first film had earned around Rs 1,300 crore worldwide. Dhurandhar: Revenge Globally it has already crossed Rs 1,500 crore. The sequel has also grossed Rs 959 crore in India and performed better than the major hits KGF: Chapter 2, RRR And Kalki 2898 AD.
As the film continues its strong earnings, it is also inching closer to the lifetime collection. Baahubali: ConclusionWhich is Rs 1,788.06 crore.